Peace Out Party Peoples

Hi folks,

Back in July, I mentioned that I'd be taking a break from this particular blogging gig. Turned out to be a bit more than just a break, and I figure I might as well make it official: this is my farewell post for Hip Hapa.

There's a small (very small!) part of this decision that stems from the site's name. The frustration some Native Hawaiians feel over appropriation of the word hapa by Asian Americans does reflect some of my own concerns--so I think it's probably worth easing away from promoting the word through a public and (vaguely commercial) venture, out of respect for other people's passionate feelings (although anyone who researches this issue, as I have, will find that there are precious few of these people around).

But to reiterate, moving on from Hip Hapa has almost nothing to do with the name. What motivates me to get out of the blogging game is the blogging game. Web 2.0 is heralded as the greatest thing since sliced bread, but for the time being at least, this scene is decidedly not for me. While people claim that this is a great way to communicate with others and form community, I'm not seeing it. I swear I could write a book about my irritation with the medium, but instead, let's just say this: DON'T BELIEVE THE HYPE.

On my way out, though, I'd like to point you in the direction of someone who is killing it on the blogging circuit and who deserves your readership: colinresponse does what I've been trying to do here, but better. Check it out.

And please stay tuned to this site, too, because who knows what exciting plans Mix76 has for it in the future.

But as for me, to quote my bard...

5000
-OG

Out to Lunch

Hey Party Peoples,

Sorry I didn't contribute anything last week... unfortunately, I'm doing pretty much the same thing this week, and into the foreseeable future. There's lots going on in the OG world these days, and although I love putting my two cents into this here blog, I've got to ease off it for the time being.

While I'm posting temporary leave notices and pictures of chickens with beer cans inserted in their backsides, allow me to note that Lyrics Born will be in Berkeley this Friday night to host the What's Poppin' Summer Showcase at Shattuck Downlow (2284 Shattuck Avenue). Head on over if you have the chance.

And that's all I really got to say. Later on, y'all.

Don't Put Your Labels on Me, Man!

Yo.

You may think it's contrary to what we're all about, but Hip Hapa now features labels.

With them, you can sort through all our backpages by topic, for everything ever posted on this site. See the little link on the bottom left corner of this post? That one says "announcements." Clicking on it will lay out all of our other posts that also qualify as announcements. Accordingly, each post we do will have a label or three that should allow you to read more about that topic (some samplings: music, race, sports, food, politics) from our complete archives.

We now return you to your regularly scheduled programming.

New Year's Resolution

1. To bring the funk to Hip Hapa once again!

Sorry for the long delay folks. Fall/ Winter 2006 was quite a busy time for Mix and OG. With careers and "venue changes" keeping us busy we slacked a bit on keeping regular postings these last few months. However, with the New Year upon us we hope to keep you entertained and informed ... and possibly stylin'!

Back In the Mix

Apologies from the Hip Hapa crew for our long posting absence. This past week we gathered in Chicago for a long overdue "Board Meeting" to discuss very urgent and important matters! Such topics discussed included: "Is that your 7th or 8th beer tonight?" and "Why are we going home?... Its only 3:45am!". But before we delve into the details of the weekend, tonight we bring you a sneak peak of the fine sights the Windy City has to offer.

The Bean.

A hot little record shop in Chicago carrying the finest in jazz, funk, soul, reggae, hip hop and more. Carriers of Jazzy Sport releases I was finally able to grab a copy of the Breakthrough album at Dusty Groove. Big Ups Kids!

The Darkroom! A saucey hip hop club where homeboy DJ 40oz spins on Sunday Nights.

And finally ... An unexpected and much appreciated homage to me at the world famous B.L.U.E.S. on Halstead. Thanks guys...You shouldn't have!

Brewed To Perfection & Always Smooth

Hip Hapa Japanese! Coming at ya soon in...

Hajimemashite... Bienvenidos

What Up All?! Welcome to Hip Hapa, a site dedicated to two incredible forces that define who I am and what I obsess over on a daily basis - Hip Hop and my Hapa background. The purpose of this site is to highlight and explore various aspects of both hip hop culture and hapa peoples (though not necessarily a combination of the two). However, although these two facets of my life will be showcased, in true hapa fashion Hip Hapa will have an array of postings serving different purposes and taking on a wide range of tones. On the one hand I would like to use Hip Hapa as a forum to discuss social and political issues that affect young people of color today. On the other hand I hope the site is of some entertainment value to readers as I post hip hop event information and provide music sound bites. In other words, I plan on using the site as a platform for my friends who promote shows and make beats to gain exposure. Finally, Hip Hapa will be a way to give mad props to famous hapas making news. Now, in order to understand how two seemingly mismatched subjects have captured my fancy and earned a page on Blogger, I offer the following.

HAPA-NESS

Hapa is a word of Hawaiian origin that is today used to describe people of partial Asian descent. "So if ya don't know, now ya know...!" Why is being Hapa important to me? For the obvious reasons. My ethnic backgrounds have shaped all aspects of my life from my moral beliefs to my mannerisms to the way I look and speak. Furthermore, many of my closest friends are hapa. Though I don't actually obsess over my hapa identity, I do tend to bombard these friends with e-mails whenever I discover that a celebrity, athlete or pop icon is part of "the team". I figure that this blog would be a more courteous way to disseminate such info rather than fill up their in-boxes. C'mon! Didn't you get really excited when Damon Dash named a half Black half Japanese kid from California, BET's "Ultimate Hustler"?!

WHY HIP HOP?

I truly feel that hip hop can be used as a tool to create social change in America. For young people of color it is our Voice. Hip hop tells the world the realities of our everyday lives in an artistic manner. Hip hop is therapy for the soul. The beats, lyrics, sounds and visuals of hip hop can relax , energize and comfort. Hip Hop has been the topic of countless conversations both heated and friendly. Hip hop is the livelihood of many close friends. Hip hop has brought me friends from all across the globe. Hip hop empowers me.

Enjoy,

Mix76